Not just you! Your instincts are perfectly correct. And truly I think the story would have been distinct from “typical” stalking stories just on the grounds that it’s usually guys stalking ladies. I think Lasdun could have written some interesting things about what stalking is in this world, and what can and can’t be done about it legally, and how his situation differs from the norm because he’s this white well-known dude, and she’s this unknown woman of color. He talks about it some, but not really in the context of other stalking. Missed opportunity, in my view!

Ugh, me too. Did you read that article Amanda Hess wrote a few days ago about cyber-harassment and how little can be done about it under current laws? She’s a feminist writer so she gets a lot of death threats. It was a frightening article.

No, nor me. I wish I’d just read the article and not the whole book, really.

Mm, I disagree, actually! I think stalking is distinct from what you’re talking about because in Lasdun’s case, it was ongoing, and is still ongoing. If nothing else, I’d have wanted to read the research to find out what in God’s name I should do about the impossible situation I was in.

You are right about the last section. I was being glib, I’m afraid!

I pictured him a bit that way too. :/ And then I felt guilty, like I was victim-blaming. (I don’t blame him at all.)

Yep, do it. It’s fine to skip.

Yeah, I think it’s very missable.

I think you are safe just reading the article he wrote. It’s very interesting and contains almost all the good stuff that’s in the book anyway.

Kind of me too! I agree, there wasn’t enough here for a memoir — although truly I think there could have been, if he’d come at it from different & more relevant angles.